Pennsylvania Fundraising Licensing

Resources for charities, businesses, professional fundraisers, and individuals conducting charitable solicitation activities
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Fundraising Compliance Guide
IntroductionOnline FundraisingHow To FileCharitable Solicitation DisclosuresCharitable Registration Audit RequirementsFundraising With ProfessionalsCommercial Co-Ventures and Cause Marketing
Fundraising Compliance Info by State

Below, you'll find licensing requirements for a range of fundraising activities. At a glance, you can see requirements, fees, filing instructions, and links to forms for everything from charitable gaming and cause marketing to professional fundraisers and charitable gift annuities.

Make sure your fundraising activities meet the unique requirements of each jurisdiction where you’re soliciting. Feel free to explore, bookmark, and share!

Pennsylvania charitable solicitation license, Pennsylvania fundraising license
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Company Licenses

Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Fundraising Company Licenses

Pennsylvania Charitable Gaming Licenses

Not required



Bingo licenses and small games of chance licenses are issued at the county level in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Charitable Gift Annuity Registration

Not required



No filing is required, but charities need to meet certain conditions before issuing charitable gift annuities. Pennsylvania certain charities from insurance regulation related to charitable gift annuities if they meet the description offered in section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, have been in continuous existence for at least 3 years, and have unrestricted assets of at least $100,000 plus half of the principal value of issued annuities. The charity must also be an educational institution, hospital, senior citizen center, religious institution, or charitable organization registered with the department of state.

Pennsylvania Charitable Organization Registration

Agency:Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Charitable Organizations
Law:

10 Pennsylvania Statutes, Chapter 4B, § 162.1 - 162.7

Automatic Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Charitable organizations which receive gross national contributions of $25,000 or less annually and do not use a professional solicitor
  • Organizations of law enforcement personnel, firefighters, or other persons who protect the public safety
  • Religious institutions
  • Educational institutions
  • PTAs
  • Hospitals and hospital foundations
  • Veterans' organizations chartered under federal law, volunteer firemen, ambulance associations, rescue squad associations, and their auxiliaries or affiliates
  • Public, nonprofit library organizations
  • Senior citizen centers and nursing homes
  • Any corporation established by an act of Congress of the United States
Notes:

If your organization is based in Pennsylvania, it may still be required to file an Institutions of Purely Public Charity Statement.

Initial Registration

Form:

Form BCO-10: Charitable Organization Registration Statement

Instructions:

Instructions for Registering

Filing method:

Mail

Agency fee:

$15-250, depending on gross contributions

Notes:
  • Read the exemptions chart carefully and check to see if you still need to file the Institutions of Purely Public Charity Statement.
  • Note the list of attachments that first-time registrants must attach to the application.
  • Some Pennsylvania counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form BCO-10: Charitable Organization Registration Statement

Filing method:

Mail

Agency fee:

$15-250, depending on gross contributions

Due:

Due annually 10.5 months after the end of the fiscal year every year.

Notes:
  • The renewal due date is indicated on the certificate of registration you receive after your initial filing. It is based on your fiscal year end.
  • You must attach an annual financial report.
  • Even if you are exempt, you still may need to file annually under Pennsylvania’s Purely Public Charity Act.

Change of Fiscal Year

Form:

Form BCO-10: Charitable Organization Registration Statement

Agency fee:

Varies

Notes:

Fiscal year can be changed during the standard renewal process.

Pennsylvania Commercial Co-Venturer Registration

Not required



Pennsylvania does not currently have a traditional registration requirement for commercial co-venturers, but they may need to follow other regulations before and after fundraising events.

Registration Not Required

Not required



Pennsylvania Fundraising Counsel Registration

Agency:Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations

Initial Registration

Form:

Form BCO-150: Registration Statement for Professional Fundraising Counsel

Agency fee:

$250

Registration Renewal

Form:

Form BCO-150: Registration Statement for Professional Fundraising Counsel (Renewal)

Agency fee:

$250

Due:

Annually

Pennsylvania Institution of Purely Public Charity Registration

Agency:Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Charitable Organizations
Law:

10 P.S. § 371. et seq.

Notes:

Charitable organizations that meet the definition of a purely public charity, as defined in The Institutions of Purely Public Charity Act, should register as an institution of public charity instead of registering as a charitable organization.

Registration to Obtain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Bona fide duly constituted religious institutions and such separate groups or corporations which form an integral part of a religious institution and are exempt from filing an annual IRS 990 Return
  • An institution of purely public charity which receives contributions of less than $25,000 per year provided that the institution's program service revenue does not equal or exceed $5,000,000
Form:

Purely Public Charity Registration Statement (Exemption)

Filing method:

Mail

Agency fee:

$0

Renewal to Maintain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Bona fide duly constituted religious institutions and such separate groups or corporations which form an integral part of a religious institution and are exempt from filing an annual IRS 990 Return
  • An institution of purely public charity which receives contributions of less than $25,000 per year provided that the institution's program service revenue does not equal or exceed $5,000,000
Form:

Purely Public Charity Registration Statement (Exemption Renewal)

Filing method:

Mail

Agency fee:

$0

Due:

Annually within 135 days of the organization's fiscal year end. The due date is May 15th for organizations with a fiscal year end date of December 31.

Initial Registration

Form:

Purely Public Charity Registration Statement

Filing method:

Mail

Agency fee:

$15

Registration Renewal

Form:

Purely Public Charity Registration Statement (Renewal)

Filing method:

Mail

Agency fee:

$15

Due:

Annually within 135 days of the organization's fiscal year end. The due date is May 15th for organizations with a fiscal year end date of December 31.

Pennsylvania Professional Fundraiser Registration

Agency:Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
Bond Requirements:

$25,000

Financial Reports Requirements:

Due within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year.

Financial Report Requirements:

Due within 90 days after a campaign has ended and on the anniversary of commencement for campaigns lasting more than a year.

Contract Filing Requirements:

File a solicitation notice at least 10 days prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.

Contract Filing Requirements:

File a solicitation notice at least 10 days prior to the start of each solicitation campaign.

Initial Registration

Form:

http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Charities/RegistrationForms/Pages/default.aspx#.VIB25iROmUk k

Agency fee:

$250

Registration Renewal

Form:

http://www.dos.pa.gov/BusinessCharities/Charities/RegistrationForms/Pages/default.aspx#.VIB25iROmUk k

Agency fee:

$250

Due:

Annually

Individual Licenses

Pennsylvania Individual Nonprofit & Fundraising Licenses

Pennsylvania Individual Professional Fundraiser Registration

Not required



Solicitors who are not employed by a professional fundraising firm but operate independently may be required to register. Employees of professional fundraising firms are generally not required to register as an individual solicitor in Pennsylvania.

Registration Not Required

Not required



Learn about fundraising in other states:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware D.C. Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho
Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri
Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania
Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Harbor Compliance® proudly partners with the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations to provide insightful resources and compliance solutions to nonprofits in Pennsylvania.


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